maister and pilot and boteswayne himself to gouerne the barke at his pleasure for he admitteâ—â— no iudge no interpreter no authoritie no antiquitie nor anie other manner of triall which is the greatest madnes and malediction that euer could happen amonge men of reason And I haue byn the longer in this first blessing for that it is the head and welspring of all other spirituall miseries insued by this alteration vpon vs which now in haste I will runne ouer as men are wont to drinck a medicine with as litle stay or reflexion as may for the euil sauour After assurance stabilitie and vnion in beleef the next greatest spiritual benedictions that can be expected of any doctryn are the good effects of vertue which it woorketh in mens myndes and manners as it was foretold by Esay the prophet that Christes doctrine should so alter mens conditions and natures that such as were most fearce sauadge and wicked before should by this doctryn become most humble kinde and gentle The wolfe sayth he shall dwell with â—he lambe and the parde shall lye with the goat the calfe lyon and sheep shall abyde together and a litle childe shalbe able to gouerne them all VVell then hath the protestantes doctryn wrought these effects of peace meekenesse mansuetude and agreement I haue touched before the bloody tragedies raysed in Fraunce Flaunders Scotland and other places vpon the first rysing therof I might adde Swizerland and Germanie where their owne stories do testifie that aboue a hundreth thowsand people were slayne within one yeare by the rebellion and warres of the countrie-men agaynst their Lordes for the controuersie of religion such humilitie obedience and meeknes of hart imâ—rinted presently this new doctryn when it came But let vs see other effects Christes doctrine exhorteth to Peâ—ance to Mortification of the flesh to Continencie Virginitie Faâ—ting Praying Almes voluntarie Pouertie renouncing of the world the lyke Are there more of these effects now adayes in England or before Or are there more in Sir Francis and his men then in ours doth he and his ghospellers pay their debtes better then Catholiques doe or keepe better Howses or more Hospitalitie or â—rayse their Rentes lesse or take lesse Fines or vse their Tenantes â—etter or lend their Neighboures more money without vsurie Or doe they helpe to Marrye more Poore mens daughters and other such like good VVoorkes of Charitie Is Pryde in apparayle Glutâ—onie Dronkennesse Lecherie Swearing and For swearing Coueâ—ousnesse Crueltie Falsehood Deceipte Theeuerie Lack of Conâ—cience Oppressing of poore men more of lesse noweadayes in vre or before when yet this change was not made Let Sir Francis anâ—were me to this and not he only but the whole countrie rouÌ„d about him and then let him tell me with wittnesses whether they be Spirituall blessinges or curses that haue insued vpon this change of Religion so much commended by him and so I shâ—l passe to weigh his temporall benedictions which perhappes he esteemeth farre more then these spirituall For better vnderstanding whereof men are wont to bring into consideration two poyntes First what was likely to haue bin or â—allen out if the the change of ReligioÌ„ had not bin made in her Maâ—esties tyme and then what hath insued vpon the change made To the first they saie that if as her Maiestie entered most happily and ioy fullie into the Crowne of England by generall consent of all and promoted especiallie by the peculier forces of Catholiques that were at that day moste potent without comparison and that as her Maiestie entered Catholiquely that is to say shewing herâ—self in all poyntes of religion and behaueour à Catholique according as she had done also before in her sister Q. Maries râ—â—gne and was now crowned and anoynted Catholiquely by a Catholique bishop at a Catholique masse and other like circumstances iâ— she had continued that course still not yeelded to the persuasionâ— of some new counsellors agaynst the iudgement of all her olde aâ— in deed she was hardly brought to yeelde therunto at the beginning for that she foresawe by her wisdome diuers of the inconueniences that sythence haue insued then say these men if this had bynâ— so both her Maiestie and the realme had byn moste happie at this day And in particuler they alleadge these benefytes following which of all probabilitie would haue fallen vpon vs. First her Maiestie at this day had had a moste florishing kingdome vnited both to her and among themselues in Religion iudgment affection fidelitie and frendshippe as other realmes Catholique of the worlde are seen to be and as ours for aboue a thowsand yeares together with much honour and felicitie is knowne to haue remayned Here of had insued that none of these feares and terrors of Conquestes Inuasions Assaultes Treasons Conspiracies and the like which this Wach-man indeuoreth to lay before vs had euer come in consideration For that England vnited in it self hath euer since iâ— was a Monarchie made other Kingdomes and Prouinces rownâ— about it to feare her forces as by matters happened in FraÌ„ce Ireland and Scotland for many ages is euident and she neuer greatlie feared any Thirdly England had had her Maiestie at this day by all likelihood a ioyfull mother of many fayre and princely children for thaâ— the principall cause of her graces not marying is to be presumed to haue proceeded of the different Religion of forrayne Princes who desired the same on the on side and on the other the inequalitiâ— of blood in her owne subiectes for such aduauncemeÌ„t For to attribute this great resolution of her Maiestie to the onlie loue of sole lyfe and Mayden head I doubt how it can be iusâ—ifiable seing that among Catholiques where such professioÌ„ is more praised and practised they vse sometymes to draw out euen vowed Nunnes from their Cloisters to mariadge for so weightie a cause as is the sauing of succession in so great a crown as England is known to be And among protestants virginitie is not of that necessitie or merit as for it to incurr so great inconueniences notwithstanding the base and seruile flatterie of this crowching Knight who casteth in now and then the memorie of a Mayden Queen without respecting the deadly wound which his countrie receiueth thereby Fourthly of this had followed the sure establishment of the succession of this Imperiall crown in the blood and race of the vnited Royall Howses of York and Lancaster and of the lyne of the Noble King Henry the seuenth which lyne being now to end with her Maiestie in the direct discent is lyke to bring great dangers to the realme For albeit there want not of collateral branches yet their causes are otherwise so implicated for diuerse respects but espetiallie by difference of religion which had neuer happened if the change had not byn made as no man can tell what wilbe the end and most men do â—eare extreme calamities therby Fifthly if
England during the raigne of fourtie yeares notwithstanding â—ll the pressures vexations dishonours rapines slaughters impriâ—onments and deaths which they haue suffered in this space at the hands of Protestantes Puritans and Atheists for their religion VVhich afflictions layd together haue byn more then euer subiecteâ— since England was a monarchie suffered at home in this kynde Now then mark that which followeth If we looke one our own chronicles we shall scars finde any one Princes raigne though oâ— far fewer yeares then this euen when the people were all of one reliâ—gion and none of these afflictions and pressures layd vpon them buâ— that many more commotions troobles and rebellions happened then in this long tyme and among so infinite exasperations haue insued And if we looke vpon the short raignes of king Edward Queen Mary and the parte of king Henryes tyme after alteration in religion there is no comparison And whence cometh all this trowâ— you but of the singuler vertue and vnspeakeable patience of the Catholique subiectes of our tyme vnder her Maiestie that haue liued and suffered all this with gronning only and secret teares without further breach to defend themselues or reuenge ther iniuries And truly when forayn nations do both see and read the bloody list of lawes made against Catholiques and Catholique religion in England within these forrtie yeares and do heare of the rigorous execution of thesame together with the incredible molestations that therby are layed vpon so great and potent numbers of people that lack noâ—â—corage also to aduenture euen to death it self in fauor of their said religion they rest astonished and do wonder how either the countriâ—â— can remayn voyd of continual tumults or the prince free from infinitâ— dayly perils seing that desperation in such matters is the next dore to all extremities especially the persecution beinge so rigorous and violent so vniuersal and exorbitant as infinite people are interessed and touched therby either inmediatly by themselues or in their children seruantes kinsfolkes or frendes whereupon fynallie they do greatly admire as I haue said the modestie patience and longanimitie of the English Catholiques And so much the more for that the Protestant when he is vnder and disâ—auored hath no patience at all but breaketh out continually to most violent tumultes and rebellions If we do consider the deportement of the protestantes in Queen Maries tyme and how euery moneth almost they had either rebellious or new turbuleÌ„t practises against the state and Queen not being ashamed at length also by publique bookes to make all weomen incapable of royal gouernement a man would think this fellow very shameles not to blush to make this discourse agaynst Catholiques so soon after those broiles of his owne people And yet these differeÌ„ces are to be noted in the cause first that Q. Maryes gouernement dured but â—tle more then foure yeares and this of her Maiestie hath donne fourty â—en were the principal protestantes not touched nor pressed but now â—o Catholiques at all is spared they were restreyned only from brining in of nouelties these are forced to renounce their old religioÌ„ that â—om the first coÌ„uersion of the land they and their fathers haue profesâ—ed and vowed to keep they had few or no forrayn princes of their â—eligion round about to geue them courage or assistâ—nce these haue â—e most and strongest in Christendome and yet are quiet and this for England But if we passe our eye beyonde this litle Iland also and consider â—hat reuel these frends of Sir Francis though not of Saynt Francis â—aue made in other countries since the beginning of their innouaâ—ions to witt in Germanie France Flandres Poland Swethland Demnarke and Scotland agaynst their true and lawful princes what â—rmies campes battayles and insurrections what desolation of counâ—ries cities townes and linages they haue caused and what slaughter â—nd hauok of Christian blood they haue procured more impudent and â—idiculous will this clamor and exaggeratioÌ„ of our crowching knight â—eem to be about two earles only that vpon feare of force gathered â—heir seruants neighbours and tenants together and presently fled â—nd of two or three other gentlemen wherof the one was put to death â—or hauing a description of certaynes portes and hauens only found in â—is chamber and for that he had some intelligence with the Queene of Scottes and with Don Bernardin de Mendoza Embassador for the King of Spayne resident in England though nothings els could be â—roued against him the other went beyond the feas for that he could â—ot lyue with his conscience at home and neuer hurted them since And of two earles more committed the one vpon suspition and nothing proued against him that was known before his piteous death which God only knoweth how he came vnto the other for flying first for his conscience out of the realme he beeing taken on the sea and brought back again and after diuers yeares of imprisonment without any further matter layd to his charge was after condemned principally if not onely for a Masse heard or caused to be said in the tower of LoÌ„don which was such a treason as all his noble ancestors would haue byn glad to haue ben coÌ„deÌ„ned for his posteritie may glori that he was for that neuer Earle in England synce it was Christian was euer brought to the bar for such and so glorious and so holy a treason And to conclude all these accusations in deed layd together against English Catholiques are but very tryfles and triuial things that dayly happen in moste quiet peaceable commonwealthes where no man is afflicted by the state at all But that infinite greater and more haynous stirres and breaches haue not bin raysed within the space of fourtie yeares where so deadly differences in religion and so continual persecution against so great a body haue bin in vre this I say as I sayd before that to men of iudgement and indifferencie and of experience in gouernment is a maruelous wonder and a moste famous canonization of the patience magnanimitie and fidelity of English Catholiques and her Maiestie and the realme are happy that they haue such subiects And if they will not beleue me let them but turn the leaf a litle against protestants puritans and other new sectaries and restrain them from their desires and pinch them with persecution but a quarter of that they haue donn to Catholiques and they shall se and feele by experience which kynde of people is more apte to obey or to woork turmoiles and perils to their weal-publique and gouernours And therby also will appear the vanitie and malice of this impertinent and spitefull slanderer who endeth his inuectiue with these woords There is no end saith he with this people their practises are pestilent their perswasions perilous their platforms traiterous and to serue their turn they want not cunning to execute all so violent they are in their vilanies and treasons and so shameles
their araygnments was sweet and comfortable their consciences clearing them before their sayd mayster from all such act meaning or intention of treasons as falsly was layd agaynst them and so much the more willingly they went to the ladder and their example with the same reasons and meditations haue put the same desyre in foure tymes as many of their owne coate as they were in thowsaÌ„des of others within the land which would neuer haue thought of this perfection of dying for religion if God had not taught it theÌ„ by this persecutioÌ„ exaÌ„ple of others Aâ—d Sir Francis himself coÌ„playneth also as before you haue heard that within these three yeares vpon his knowledge many haue fallen away and do fall away daylie from his religion to ours by example the one of the other for that as he saith Of the elder oxe the yonger steere doth learne So as by this may be gathered what will be the successe of this pursuite on the catholique syde if the rigor be continued But on the other hand what it may come vnto God only forseeth whose cause if the catholiques do defend and if his spirit be with them as to most men it is euident then must they winne in the end and his wrath will appeare at length agaynst the other parte that iniustly afflicteth them howsoeuer it be delayed and borne of for a tyme. Nor is the argument good that some do vse to make we haue indured thus long and prospered c. For the holy ghost himself answereth Ne dixeris pâ—ccaui quid mihi accidit triste altissimus enim est patiens redditor Say not I haue donne amisse and no hurt hath happened vnto me for that God is a patient paymayster and in the end payeth for all The wise Solon told rich Craesus in his prosperitie that the measure of his felicitie could not be taken but at the end of his lyfe which in deed fell out to be most miserable and in England king Henry the sixth concluded a long raigne of fortie yeares with a troblesome and pittiful perturbation of the same And yet was there no such violent vexation of subiectes in those dayes as now is and hath byn for many yeares wherin truly if we set asyde all respect of religion and of Gods intermedling in the case and consider only reason itself and the opinion of wise wordly men and Philosophers no man is ignorant but that they agree all that nullum violentum est durabile And agayne that malus diâ—turnitatis custos est metus And Christe our Sauiour much more fully Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur All which groundes and principles cannot but lay before your Lordships wisdomes the importance of some mitigation and mollification of matters for preuenting further inconueniences if not for the present yet at least for the tyme to come espetially if God in his iustice and anger should take from vs her maiestie all men may forsee in what termes we shalbe quickly when to the differences of religion shalbe added the other also about the succession intangled perhaps principally by these respects of religion And then when exasperated myndes shall come to haue more commoditie of working their willes and wreaking their wrathes great extremities may be feared except the way be made before hand by some temperature of mitigation for that English natures are vehement as all men know in whatsoeuer they take in hand but espetially in these kynde of differences as former tymes haue made lamentable experience and the future I feare will declare the same much more if preuention be not made seing that neuer in tymes past concurred so many circumstances of sharp contention both from at home and abrode as now are lyke to be no forayn prince being neer about vs but wilbe desirous to haue an oare in the guyding of this bark if once it be aflote either for their owne pretenses or for their frend or agaynst their opposite besydes the different reasons of state that may moue diuers parties at that day as FraÌ„ce FlaÌ„dres DeÌ„mark that our future king be not ouerstroÌ„g Spayne FraÌ„ce FlaÌ„ders that he coÌ„cur with them in religioÌ„ EnglaÌ„d generally that he subiect vs not to an other crowne EnglaÌ„d in part that he be homeborne and England in three partes to the fauor or disfauour of three distinct religions Protestant Puritan and Catholique euery parte for his owne And as these things are manifest in themselues so is it also no lesse euident that the only or principal meane to preuent these dangers were to mittigate somwhat these acerbities now to the end that men of different religions dealing more freindly together might in time either come to be all of one opinion or at leastwise to agree in some good temperature for this publique afaire of the common-wealth which is impossible to do while matters of religion are pursued with such hostilitie as for many years they haue bin To which consideration there commeth also an other of no lesse moment in myn opinion which is that her Maiestie hauing raigned now a goodly number of years being neer the one and fourtie of her scepter as she followeth fast on the rate of Octauianus Augustus yeares of Empire so would she imitate his sweetnes and felicitie also in disposing his later yeares euen from the number of fourtie that her Maiestie is now at to the exhilerating of all her people generally as he did and therby came to be so deare so intirely beloued of all as the publique teares of all did testifie at his death all crying and wishing that either he had neuer bin borne or neuer dyed neuer bin their Emperor or neuer left to be referring the former parte of their wish vnto the beginning of his gouernmeÌ„t which had bin preiudicial to their common wealth and the second to his latter end which was most grateful to all And this particuler point of Augustus his proceeding diuers noble kings also of her Maiesties progenitors haue indeuored to imitate by special dissignement namely the two famous Henryes the fourth and seuenth and Edward also the fourth who albeit they entered by dint of sword and had many sharp bickerings for diuers yeares with their oposite factions yet all three of them so disposed themselues to clemencie towards their later dayes as they were most dear euen to them that had bin their enimies and oposit at their first entraÌ„ce to the crown VVhich circumstance notwithstanding of difficultie doth not occur to her Maiestie in the matter proposed for fauour of the Catholiques for that she neither entered the crowne by force of armes nor had she the catholiques of her realme against her therin but rather they were the people that principally with most harty affectioÌ„ assisted her Maiestie to the quiet and peaceable possession of the same as in another place more at large hath bin declared And euer since they haue liued with that
his dignitie Bishopâ—ke held in the tower all the tyme of that gouernmeÌ„t wherin the â—uke ruled all but yet the duke being condeÌ„ned to death knowing â—e gentle nature of the Bishop that he was nothing vindicatiue he â—esolued to rely vpoÌ„ him of all other men so made petitioÌ„ after senâ—ce of death geueÌ„ agaynst him that he might speake only with the Biâ—hop before his death as well about matters concerning his soule â—nd conscience as also for disposing of his other affaires VVhich peâ—tion being graunted though somewhat hardly by the Queen and â—ouncel for that it had byn hindred by the Dukes aduersaries that â—new and feared in this case the Bishops tendernes of hart at last he â—as sent to the tower in the company of an other Councelor to be â—resent at their talke who afterward recounted and I haue heard it â—om his own mouth the hartie teares that the said Bishop shed at â—e sight and conference with the Duke who after much speech said â—o the Bishop towards the end with great affliction of mynd My â—ood lord B. And is there no hope at all for me to liue and to do â—ome pennance in the rest of my dayes for my sinnes past alas let me â—ue a litle longer though it were but in a mous-hole To which the Bishop answered o my lord I would God that any thing could haue â—ontented your grace but a kingdom when you were at libertie and â—n prosperitier and now also I would it lay in my power to geue you â—his mous-hole for I would allow you the best pallace I haue in the world to be your mous-hole and I do offer to do for you what I can â—oâ—sibly But yet for that your offence is great sentence is past aâ—aynst you and your aduersaries are many it shalbe best for you to prouyde for the woorst and especialie that you stand well with God in matters of conscience and religion for to speake playnlie it is mosâ— lykely that you must dye To that the Duke answered that he would dispose him self and desired he might haue a learned preest sent him for his confession and spiritual coÌ„fort And as for religion sayd he you know my Lord B. that I can be of no other but of yours which is the Catholique for â— neuer was of any other in deed nor euer so foolish as to beleeue any of that which we haue set vp in King Edwardes dayes but only to vse the same to my owne purpose of ambition for which God forgeue me and so I meane to testifie publiquely at my death for it is the truth so he did and his coÌ„fession was put forth in print as the world knoweth and at this day much of it extant in Stowes chronicleâ— B. Gardener went away with an afflicted hart for the Duke shed many a teare for him on the way as he returned and presently went to the Queen and intreated so earnestly for him as he had haâ— gayned her consent for his lyf which so much terrified the Dukes aduersaries as presently they got the Emperour Charles that was iâ— Flanders to wryte to the Queen a verie resolute and ernest letter that it was not safe for her nor the state to pardon his lyf and with that he was executed All which story I haue byn inforced to repeate a litle the more larger therby to check the malignant speech of this our sicophanâ— knight against so worthie a man whome he will needes make â— bloody and cruel monster and to haue sought malitiously the death of her Maiestie when she was Lady Elizabeth VVhich was so faâ— of from his condition and nature espetially she being at that tyme an obiect rather of loue and compassion then of enuy and hatred aâ— I dare say he doth him apparent and wilful wrong Yet it may be that he hath heard somewhat about the discouery of a certaynâ— bracelet imputed to the Chancelor in examination of Sir Thomas Wiattes affayres and his complices In which bracelet it was said that all the secretie of that conspiracie lay hidden and that the Chancelor did pearse the matter further then others which may be alsâ— true that point belonging then to his office and obligation but that he euer vsed or vrged the knowledge gotten therof to the ladies peril this Hastinges neither in hast nor by leasure will euer be able to proue And so much of this poynt touching her Maiesties person Let vs examine the rest that he writeth of B. Gardener some â— the woords were repeated before but heer they are necessary againâ—â— by reason of the commixion with that which followeth The recusants sayth he cannot professe more loyalty and loue to the Queen that now is then did Gardener to her father and brother writing a booke de vera obedientia c. But when these two noble princes were dead and Queen Marie in the kingdom then he did tear of his glorious vizard for he and his compliâ—ces neuer rested vntil they had brought in the Spanyard aud matched him with Queen Marie by which they betrayed God her and the whole realme It seemeth that this poore seely man is either very ignorant in matters of our own realm or very badly bent to tel manifest vntruthes For who knoweth not that albeit Bishop Gardener at the beginning of king Henryes defection from the church of Rome being born away with the stream of the tyme and with some feare of the kings violent proceeding and not very full instructed perhaps in that controuersie of the Supremacie for that it was at the very first entrance to his Bishoprik after the fall of Cardinal VVolsey shaken also with the frailty of humane infirmity he shronk with S. Peter and stepped somwhat asyde in that booke of his de vera obedientia c. But yet how soon he did recall himself agayn and condemned his owne doing therin and how much also he preuailed in secret with the king himself in that poynt of doctrine you shall hear afterward by his own testimony And as for king Edwards raigne it is a flat fable and fiction which our knight telleth vs of Bishop Gardeners following the sway also of that time for it is well knowen that he being one of the cheifest among those sixteen counsellors that were apoynted by king Henries testament and earnest charge of mouth at his last hower to gouern his sonne and realme during the minoritie of the yong king with expresse commaundement also of the dead king that neither protector should be chosen nor yet any poynt of Luthers Zwinglius or Caluins religion brought in Bishop Gardener as a faithful counsellor striued what he could at the very first entrance to haue both these orders of king Henry obserued But ambitioÌ„ ouerbearing all first a Protector within 40. howers after the kings death and then soone after an innouation also of religion was thrust vpon the realme by violence of some that packed
together for their gaines more then for deuotion which Bishop Gardener seeing and not able to resist he spake his minde plainly touching religion in a sermon before the yong king and councell vpon Saint Peters day which was but fiue moneths after king Edwards raign for which sermon he was sent to the tower the morning after and lay there prisoner all king Edwards time and came not out vntill Queen Marie at her first entrance into the tower of london wheÌ„ she was Queen deliuered him and other catholique prisoners together and how then doth our steel-brow-knight write that Bishop Gardener Hattered both father and sonne and neuer shewed himself in religion vntil both of them were called to their last home and Queen Marie entred the crown let some frend blush for him if he haue not shame to do it himself Againe it is as great an vntruth and as grosse ignorance besydes to say as this man doth that Bishop Gardener and his complices brought in the Spaniard and mached him in mariage with Queen Marie For that euery childe acquaynted with that state knoweth or may learne that Bishop Gardener was of the contrarie part or faction that fauored yong Edward Courtney the Earle of deuonshire and would haue had him to Marie the Queen whome Bishop Gardener had held for his spiritual childe in the tower all king Edwardes tyme. And now the matter was so far forward as the mariage was held for certayne but that the contrarie syde and especially the Lord Paget partly by the acquaintance and credit he had gotten with Charles the Emperor in Flanders during king Edwards tyme and partely for the ielosie he had perhappes of B. Gardeners great affection to the Duke of Northumberland his greatest enemie who in king Edwards reigne had indeuored vtterly to disgrace him they procured I say the said Emperors most earnest and effectual letters to the Queen about her mariage with the Prince of Spayne which they did so vrge to the sayd Queen and with so many argumentes against Courtney espetially that he was neither sound in body nor religion as they got her consent and subscription to the sayd letters of the Emperor And then there was no further dealing to the contrary for that Queen Mary bore such exceeding loue and reuerence to the Emperor Charles her Cosin as she would not fayl in her word geuen to him for all the world VVherby we may imagin what a mortification Bishop Gardener and all the rest of his side that fauored Courtney did receaue by this change of the Queens will and purpose and therby also perceyue the folly and temerite of this rashe accuser who layeth to there charge the bringing in the Spaniard which yet if they had donne or had byn cause of that greatest and most honorable mariage that for many ages hath byn in Christendom and of greatest consequence if issue had followed therof if this I saie bad byn so as it was not why did they betray therin both God the Queen and there countrie as this wise Censurer affirmeth what grownds what reason may there be aleaged of this triple treason God receiued by this mariage the strengthening of his true religon the Queen got the greatest noblest and richest husband that was extant in Europe our countrie got many a thowsaud of Spanish treasure without losse of any as heerafter shal be shewed And wherin then stood this great offence But let vs passe ouer these follies of our knight in matters of state for that perhaps his prayse and skyll is only in armes yet one point more must I examine wherin he condemneth B. Gardener and this is for his sermon made at S. Paules crosse vpoÌ„ the wordes of the Apostle to the Romanes hâ—ra est iam nos de somno surgere It is now high tyme for vs to ryse out of sleep the night hath gone before the day is come c. and the rest that followeth there All which sacred scripture this learned religious knight sayth very peremptorily that it was most prophanely and blasphemously peruerted by the said Bishop and that to bloody purposes which we shal now à litle discusse This famous sermon was preached as I sayd before at Paules crosse after the mariage was celebrated between the King and the Queen who both were present at this speech of the Bishop nowe also hygh Chancelor and there prsent in like maner both Cardinal Poole legate of the sea Apostolique as also the Embassadors of the Emperor french King and other Princes and a marueylous great learned and noble auditorie besydes as euer perhaps was at any sermon in England before or after The Chancelors discourse was how long they had runne astray and byn in darknes of diuision and stryfe among themselues since first king Henry lefte the old troden path of his ancestors kinges and Queenes of England in matters of religion and brake from the vnion of the church of Rome and of other catholique kingdomes round about him and that now it was time to arise out of this sleep and to looke about them And in this discours and sermon the Chancellor vttered two principal thinges among other that greatly moued the whole auditory The first was the hartie and humble accusation of himself for his â—all and consenting to King Henryes will in that booke de vera obedienâ—tia which he did vtter with so great vehemencie of spirit and abundance of teà res as he could not goe forward and was forced diuers tymes to make some pawses which in such an audience especially of strangers also he being the cheefest person of the realme after the prince we may imagin what a temporal shame and confusion it was vnto him and how greatly it would moue the hearers and lookers on to see him make such an accusation of himself willingly of his owne accord without compulsion and with such earnestnes as he did And that there was no fiction or dissimulation in this act of his the end declared for when he fell sick afterward and drew neer vnto his death he desired that the passion of our Sauiour might be redde vnto him and when they came to the denial of Saynt Peter and how after Christe had looked back vpon him he went out and wepte bitterly the Bishop cried out and bid them stay there and see whether his sweet Sauiour wold vouchsafe also to looke back vpon him and geue him some part of Saynt Peters teares for sayth he negaui cum Petro extui cum Petro sed nondum fleui amare cum Petro I haue denied Christe with Peter meaning that subscription to the supremacie of king Henrie I haue gone out with Peter meaning the participatioÌ„ of that schisme but yet I haue not wepte bitterly with Peter so bitterly as I should do and by often repetition of those woordes and asking God sorgeuenes with cryes and syghes he intertayned himself vntill great floodes of teares came downe vpon him and so gaue vp the
ghost The second notable poynt which the Bishop vttered in this sermon was concerning king Henrie the eight his lord and mayster which moued the auditorie no lesse then the other And this was that the sayd king a litle before his death had dealt with him verie secretly and seriously to haue sent him to a certayne dyat in Germanie vnder pretence to treat other matters but in deed the cheef poynt should be to seeke out some honorable way and meanes as from himself and not from the king either by the Emperor legat popes Nuntio or other fit instrument to reconcyle him agayne to the church of Rome And this the Bishop affirmed to be most true vpon his oath and fidelitie to God and the world and to the memorie of the sayd king his master dead whome he shewed to loue so tenderly and dearly as he wepte most bitterly also in that place for that this holie motion had not taken the effect he desired attributing the let therof to Gods seuere iudgmentes and to the great difficulties which the sayd king found of making that recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ with his honour and reputation which temporal honour he lamented much that it was more regarded by the king and some that counselled him then in so weightie a woork of eternall saluation ought to haue bin Thus then was the substance and these were the circumstances of that sermon Let vs now coÌ„sider whether the theam he tooke iam hora est nos de somno surgere were fit and to his purpose or no or whether it were prophanely blasphemously peruerted as this wise gentleman affirmeth who taketh vpon him to censure the matter First let it be considered that if euer any man of our realm might take vpon him to talk of a sleep or dream in matters of our coÌ„mon-wealth as a Counsellor and of his own knowledge Bishop Gardener might do it which had seen such alterations both of religion and temporalityes within our land such chopping and chaunging such pulling down and setting vp as he might fitly call the tyme a time of sleep or dream For as in a sleep things are represented to a man confusedly and out of hand they passe away and contrarie representations come in their place so had Bishop Gardener seen in the publique affaires of the realme no lesse alterations of comicall and tragical acts after he came to be a councellor For first he had seen his own king and maister king Henry the eight so earnest in the defence of the catholique faith of the sea of Rome in perticuler as he wrote a booke in defence therof though he were disswaded by some of his counsell to do it for reason of state And after that again being to send this very man Gardener then his secretarie to Rome for his Embassador about soliciting of the diuorce between himself and Queen Catherine he commanded him to tel the Pope and Colledge of Cardinales that whatsoeuer they determined in that matter he would accept it with all indifferencie and euer be a most obedient childe of the Romane churche And this commission he gaue him in the presence of Cardinal VVolsey and yet soone after he saw the same king so chaunged for the affection he bare to an other partie as he brake with the Pope and churche of Rome and pulled down the sayd Cardinal and put to death two of the men that he esteemed most for vertue and learning of all his realme or of any other forrain kingdome of Christendom and whom he had loued before exceedingly to wit Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas More Chancelor Again Gardener had seen the same king wax weary soone after of the party for whose loue he had first begun to make all those stirres and to put her to death openly and yet to continew his former breaches and to run from one difficulty to an other and from one inconuenience to an other neuer to stop the fountain from whence all this vnquietnes came He had seen him also passe from on wife to another to the number of six dismissing some and putting others to death according to the affection or disaffection which he bare to each of them for the time He had seen him make diuers and different actes of parlament in preiudice or preferment of his own children now for their legitimation and inheritance now for the contrarie as by the statutes themselues yet extant in print is euident to the world And from the liking or disliking of his said wiues he passed also to the liking or suspition of his own kinred subiects and familier frâ—nds of which he pulled downe so many as by the stories may be seen And Bishop Gardener was wont to say of him that knew him ful well that after he once left to loue that person which by Gods law and mannes he was bound to loue aboue all others to wit his first wife and Queen he neuer loued any person harâ—ely and constantly afterwards Moreouer he had seen the poore king so combered and troobled about matters of religion as was pitiful to behold For that on the one side the point of his spiritual Supremacy taken vp in his choleâ— against the Pope seemed to touch his honor so neare as he might not shew to yeeld any one iote therin and consequently he was fain to put to death all such Catholiques as denyed the same though otherwise he both loued and highly esteemed themâ— and on the other side his iudgement and conscience in matters of the Catholique truthe against the protestants and all new sectaries conuinced his conscience and vnderstanding as he cleerly vttered in the statute of six articles which iudgement also enforced him to burne as many of that fide â— were conuicted And finally being wearied towards his later end with these combats of conscience and honor iudgement and passion he conferreâ— with Bishop Gardener as you haue heard about the mayn remedy and only sure redresse of all which was his returning to the vnion of the Romane churche and the rest of Christendome And besides all this Bishop Gardener had seen the same afflicted king brought to such streights and doubts in his later howers of life about the weightiest affaires that he had in this world as he could not tell what to determine ordayne or establish for the securitie of his owne children espeâ—ially of his only sonne prince Edward thaâ— had but nyne yeares yet of age and for that cause was the fatherâ— hart more peâ—siue about him For first he was afeard to leaue any protector vnto him remembring the eueÌ„t of king Edward the fourâ—â— his children vnder their vncle protector the Duke of Glocester And secondly he was as greatly afeard and afflicted also to think least after his death the perilous waues and fluddes of heresies should enter vpon him by the very same gate that hymself had opened VVhetfore both these poyntes he forbad expresly and appoynted for execution therof sixteen
gouernours as I haue sayd with equal authoritie all in his opinion or the far greater parte very catholique But he was no sooner dead but all these orders of his were ouerthrowen and a protector made the third day after the kinges death and sone after religion changed and the law of six articles abrogated and as litle regard had to king Henries will and ordinances as if he had neuer byn king of this realme or mayster to the breakers And among other these changes was displaced Gardener himself one of the cheef of those sixteen appoynted for gouernours by king Henry and not only thrust from all authoritie but sent also to the tower of London prisoner as before I haue shewed and other Catholique Lordes remoued in lyke manner from the Councel for lyke endes and purposes Then began a new world of making new Lordes new Earles new Marqueses new Dukes in deuiding great states offices dignites in good felowship amonge themselues all in the name of the childe king though he were not yet crowned nor three weekes past synce his fathers death New men also were called out of Germany to wit Peter Martir and Martin Bucer two apostated friars with their wenches that had been Nunnes who must come to teache a new religion in England but with expresse condition to be indiffereÌ„t to reache that sect opinion either of Luther Swinglius or Caluin or other that should be determined and agreed vpon by the Parlament then in gathering together and so they were contented and with that condition they were sent the one to Oxford and the other to Cambrige Then was the new English forme of seruice drawen out in hast by certayne of the Protectors chaplayns in Somerset place in London not fully agreeing to any of the Captaynes doctrine aforesaid but somewhat mingled of them all and much also of the Catholique ryte and forme all which was approued soone after for apostolical and established by the lay part of the Parlament for the cleargie reclaymed and all men inforced to sweate vnto it and so for the old religion receaued by the vniuersal church and continued in England for aboue a thousand years and confirmed by so many miracles at the beginning as S. Bede and other ancient authors do affirme and allowed by the consent of all our learned English for so many ages now was there a new religion deuised in corners set vp by certayne obscure and hungrie fellowes in hast within the space of two monethes and authorized by a parlament of vnlearned lay men to be the rule of our saluation But in the meane space the Duke of Somerset now head of this church for that the childe king was at play could think nothing of it attended principally to his temporall aduancement to purchase good old land and caused his seruantes to set forward the new religion without troobling him therin saying that all should be examined and approued afterward by the authoritie of the yong king as trew head of the Church and so it was Then followed great tumultes and rebellious in the realme as also iarring and falling out of the great protestant Councellors among themselues The protector first cut of the head of his brother the Admiral and then the Earle of VVarwicke cut of the head of the Protector and diuers of his frendes and made himself duke of Northumberland and then plotted with the duke of Suffolke to cut of all king Henries children and to bring in Suffolkes daughter and Northumberlandes sonne as they did For which soone after both their heades were cut of also by Queen Marie and Catholique religion was restored agayne to the state wherin first it was when king Henry her father began this tragedie and first put all out of ioynt Thus passed the matter briefly and all this Bishop Gardener had seen and passed through and had plaied his parte in diuers actes and pageantes to wit as an actor in the beginnyng and as a patient after as hath byn shewed And being now restored to his old estate agayne and more ouer made Chancelour of the realme and looking back vpoÌ„ the dream past had he not trow you iust cause to preache hora iam est nos de somno surgere it is tyme to aryse from sleep wherin we haue slumbered these tweÌ„ty yeares and more in suche varietie of tossinges and to walk with more light and stead fastenes for the tyme to come let it be left I say to the iudgment of euerie discreet reader whether this theame parable were fitly chosen and wel applied by B. Gardener or no or rather blasphemously peruerted as our Hunting deuyne Sir Francis wil needs haue it and so much for this tyme of Bishop Gardener About C. Allen for that I haue byn ouer large in B. Gardeners affaires I meane to be verie breef so much the breefer for that the matters obiected agaynst him by this accuser are very cauils if we consider the substaÌ„ce of the thing it self for he sayth that this English traytor though he were a Cardinal at Rome and sworn to the Popes paÌ„table hath sent froÌ„ thence many slanderous and seditious pamphlets and in one which was the treatise against the English execution of iustice he seemeth to wish that doctor Sanders and doctor Bristow had spared to speak so much in defence of Pius Quintus Bul agaynst her Maiestie and yet he doubteth not to affirme that these two learned men of â—reat zele and excellencie had their special reasons to do so which he will neither desend nor reproue c. And further he proceedeth sayth this maÌ„ to excuse all the preestes and studentes beyond the seas and all such as haue come ouer and saith that all of them â—ince that censure of his holinesse to vse sayth he his owne wordes did vse all â—euerence and respect to her Maiestie vttering in no preaching speach or booke â—o not at the houre of their death and martyrdome nor euer before in any their confessions to the magistrate any disloyal word agaynst her Maiestie These woordes recyteth Hastinges out of the discourse against their English iustice as wordes of moderation or rather blushing as he â—ermeth them for that which was done before and yet he sayth that â—n an other treatise of defence of Sir VVilliam Stanlies act in geuing â—uer Deuentrie to the king of Spayne the Cardinal cometh to â—tter himself as far as either Sanders or Bristow or any other in approbation of the sayd excomunication which thing albeit this kinght â—o greatly condemne yet cannot I any thing marueyle thereat considering that the Cardinals opinion being as he was could be no other in substance touching matters of controuersie then was that of doctor Sanders doctor Bristow and the rest And though for peace â—â—oderation and edification he liked wel in others and specially â—n the yonger sorte of preestes that they should auoyd all occasion of â—ateful speach in this odious
earthly substance to wit in his riches ease and commodities of this lyf warre is made by meanes of Iesuites and sedition is put into his house before he was aware his reason falleth out with his sense and his conscience with his ease and with all the residue of his former trade of lyf and heer by both him self and all the countrie round about him is put in comotion and Iesuites are accused of this offence for putting of fyre in this house hew and cry is made after them many complayne others curse that are either trobled or endamaged by this warre and this is the true state of Iesuites at this day and these are the causes for which they are made odious and termed seditous For as for the odde and ydle callumniation of the heretiques of our tyme wherunto Sir Francis also as a deuoted child of theirs doth set his hand in this place that they do practise the deathes of princes and procure their destruction except only he meane that practise wherin they ioyne with their mayster vt princeps huîus mundi â—ijciatur foras that the prince of this world may be cast forth and that in particuler they haue sought the blood of our Soueraigne of England with such thirst as this man auoucheth and that generally they be princequellers king-killers and the lyke is an accusation no lâ—sse found then false and malitious and as easie to proue as that Sir Francis is by occupation a iugler for what men are Iesuites to attend to such attemptes or what profit or emolument can arise to them more then to other men by such murdering of princes albeit you would faign them to be so voyd of conscience as you insinuate or where or when or by whome was euer any such enterprise proued against them you will alleage perhaps the case of France mentioned before to be attempted by Iohn Chattel a youth of nineteen years of age that had once bin their scholler for he was not actually when he attempted that fact and if he had bin who seeth not the vanitie of this accusation that the offence of one particuler scholer should be atributed to all his maisters or be punished vpon them who had aboue a thowsand scholers more in that place at that time and diuers thowsands in other places of France at which the diuel enuyed not a little Furthermore the acquitall and free deliuery of father Iohn Gueretius particuler maister that had bin of the sayd Chattel by the publique magistrate without any punishment at all after he had bin held in prison and tortured and most rigorous trial made vpon him doth euidently shew as wel his innocencie as that of all his fellowes for that so rann the humors of their conspiring enimies against them at that day in Paris where the tryal was made that if any least shew of probable offence could haue bin found and fastened on them they had all smarted for it as since hath appeared This fact then of France is their ful clearing and no way their condemnation Their followeth another attempt of later time in Holland set foorth by the kinges rebelles of those prouinces since Sir Francis wrote his booke for if it had bin published first he would haue taken no dout a large argument therof to haue discoursed theron and rayled more at randome the fact is set out in print vnder the name of a sentence of death giuen by the magistrates of Leyden the two and twentith day of Iune last past of this yeare 98. agaynst one Peter Panne natiue of Ypers in Flanders for that he tooke vpon him at the persuation of the Prouincial of the Iesuites together with the Rector and prefect of studdies of their college of Doway to kill as they say CoÌ„te Mauris Gouernour of Holland and in the end of their narration which they auow to be Peter Panne his owne confession they do adde that this iustice is done vpon him to terrifie men from fauoring the bloodie and murderous sect of Iesuites which as is notoriously knowen to the world do inâ—ent daylie a thowsand most execrable practises and trayterous entrepryses and do seeke to put them in execution for killing and murdering kinges princes and principal personages especially such as will not admit them nor approue their papistical superstition called by them the catholique Roman Religion c. These are the wordes of those magistrates in their printed senteÌ„ce whereby is manifestly seen the end that moued them to publish so lying a pamphlet as also to faigne the whole narration for defaming of Iesuites and making them odious if all were faigned or at least to induce Peter Panne to confesse it or to accept and publish so manifest false a confession without further examination of the truth and circunstances therof For that since vpon further tryal of the matter before other magistrates of other places to wit of Ypers itself where the partie dwelt and of Doway wbere the couenant was forged to be treated and concluded and of other places in Flanders it is found that all was a mere fiction so far forth as it toucheth the Iesuites and so is it testified by an answere printed by authoritie of the saied magistrates the fyue and twentith of August next insuing of the same yeare 98. and by diuers other bookes and declarations afterward set abrode for iustifying of the truth and in one of them there are obserued aboue threescore manifest lyes layd downe agaynst the Iesuites in that shameful confession as for example among other poyntes it is shewed and verefied that Peter Panne was no catholique at all nor euer had doing with the Iesuites that he was a vagrant cooper giuen to drunkenes and running vp and downe the country lyke a mad man for which faultes and for his debtes he was often put into prison and sometymes being deliuered he put in himself agayne of madnes that his freÌ„des wold haue bound him in chaynes in his owne house that he was extremely well affected to Counte Mauris and consequently no fit man for Iesuites to deale withal to kill him if they had had any such intention as their was no cause why they should haue seing they were to gayne nothing by his death Moreouer that Peter Panne neuer prouyded the Iesuites college in Doway of butter in his lyfe as is affirmed in the sentence nor euer was seen in that college by any nor that there was euer any such seruant of the college named Melchior de val feigned to haue byn the messenger to sollicit this matter with Peter Panne neither was euer there any treatie with Peter Pannes wyfe in Ypers to this effect or other as is affirmed in the confession nor had she euer any acquayntance or dealing in her lyfe with Iesuites as in the faigned narration is set downe that all the tale of Peter Pannes coming to Doway in the rogation weeke last past and his dyning and treating with the Prouincial Rector
pastors shall appeare to take account of the obedience or rebellion vsed to his vnder pastors then will these reckoninges be cleered and euerie man shall receyue according to his merits And if all Christian nations haue and ought to bear such reuerence and respect to the sea of Rome then much more our litle Iland of England as this man calleth it for that it hath receiued more singuler benifits from thence then any one nation in the world besides to wit it hath bin twice conuerted from paganisme to Christian religion by the especial diligence labour and industrie of the same sea once in the time of the Britans about a hundreth and ninetie years after Christe at what time Elutherius that holy Pope and Martyr conuerted king Lucius and his subiects by the preaching of Saint Damianus and his fellowes sent from Rome to that effect and the second time about fiue hundreth years after when our predecessors the English Saxons were conuerted by Saint Augustine and his fellow preachers sent by Saint Gregorye the great then Bishop of Rome to the same end And if it be most certayn and cannot be denyed that these two benifits rightly considered are the greatest that vnder heauen our land could receiue from any mortal men and that the obligation of this dooble spiritual birth of ours is so much greater then the band we owe to our carnal parents by how much more weightie and important is our eternal saluation then our temporal life let all men consider the barbarous ingratitude of this mā that barketh with such spite against the sea of Rome the mother of our Christianitie and against her Bishops the woorkers of so high a blessing vnto vs. And with this cōsideration I leaue the modest discreet readers to iudge of the matter as reason and religion shal induce them and with this cease to passe any further in this matter THE EIGHTH INCOVNTER TOVCHING SPANIARDES ASvvell the vvhole nation as their present King HAuing made the warde which you haue seen in the former incounter both to Rome and her Bishoppes agaynst the peeuish wranglinges and spitefull calumniations of this wach-worde-geuer there remayneth yet an other bickering about the Spanish king and nation which I haue reserued to this last place as the subiect wherein our cockish knight presumeth principally to crowe and triumph without modestie and to lauish out lies without number or measure imagining that all is both lawfull and gratefull which he sayth in that kynde and that no man will aduenture to check him therin in respect of the present warres and hostilitie that are betwixt our realme and them But he is deceaued for that the wiser sorte of our nation haue learned euen by the lawes of moral ciuilitie that a man must speake moderatly also of his enemy and the more religious sort do know by the principles of Christianitie that not only of our temporal aduersarie which may be afterward our frend we must notly or fayne reproches but neither of the Deuil himself though he be our spiritual immortal enemy and Gods also so detestable are lying lips and calumnious tongues in the sight both of God and man where either reason or religion beareth rule as neither of them seemeth to do with the enraged and distracted spirit of Sir francis Hastinges VVhich poynt that we may better consider of I shall first beginne with that which he vttereth in diuers partes of his libel agaynst the whole nation of Spaniards in general terming them by the names of proud ambitions bloody tyrannical rauening Spaniards a nation cursed by God for that the Pope that cursed man of sinne hath blessed them c. And in one place he descrybeth them in these wordes I must remember vnto you that it is recorded of the Spaniard that in dissimulation he surpasseth all nations till he haue attayned to his purpose and when he can once preuayle he goeth beyond them all in oppression and tyrannie also that he disdayneth all other nations and that in pryde and carnal voluptuosnes no nation cometh neer him and these be his qualities This our gentlemans censure gathered out of recordes as he sayth but I would gladly he had cited the author where he found this record as he ought to haue donne for discharging his fayth and honestie in so greeuous an accusation as this is and that toucheth so many if he had regard or respect therof And hardly do I beleeue that he hath euer found or shall fynd any writer of credit be he of what nation soeuer that will shew himself so fond and passionate as to set downe by wryting so preiudicial a censure and so general a reproche as this is agaynst any nation notwithstanding I know that the Spaniardes at this day haue many emulators and aduersaries partely for hatred of Catholique religion which is their greatest glorie and partely by reason of their large dominions which is not strange for so had the Romanes also before them and the Graeciās Assyriās before them agayne when their Monarchies were potent quia virtutis comes inuidia as the common prouerb sayth enuy followeth vertue and valour and in this sense our English prouerb is also most true it is better to be enuied then pitied And when the Roman monarchie was fallen and the french also that was set vp by Charls the great our English nation had the greatest of any one of Christendome for some ages together when we possessed our ample olde states and dominions in france during which tyme he that will see the inuectiues made agaynst our English manners and agaynst our proud and tyrannical kynde of proceeding as then it was termed let him but reade ouer the recordes of the french chronicles extant at this day and yet no reason that these recordes should condemn or disgrace our whole nation now nor then neither when they were written being set downe by our aduersaries and emulators and by those that were either vnder vs or feared vs and consequently were nothing equally affected vnto vs as many are not at this day agaynst Spaniards Moreouer if some Spaniardes should be found in deed to haue some of those vices or defectes which here by their calumniator Sir francis are named as among other nations no man can deny but the lyke are also to be found what reason or equitie is there to omit conscience and christianitie with which this man seemeth to haue litle to do what reason is there I say that these defectes should be attributed vniuersally to the whole Spanish nation wherin there are to be found thowsandes that haue no part nor fault as on the other syde if some English-men as they passe ouer other countries by sea and land at this daye should behaue themselues scandalously by gluttonie and drunkennes as diuers haue byn sayd to do is it a lawfull consequence to say or think that all English are such at home and that these are the qualities of the
fyne frutes our new ghospel then freshly planted and yet in the bud began to bring forth for that all this hatred and barbarous vsage towardes Spaniards and other Catholique forayners rose principally vpon the difference of religion lately begonne within our realme and these lads as the first professed proselites therof vpon heate and zeale committed these holy actions as the first frutes of so heauenly a seed But since that tyme we haue had much larger experience therof and I presume that most mennes myndes in England are sufficiently cleared in this case and if not let them behold the behaueour of Sir Francis in this libel who is an ancient branche of that plantation And so hauing seen the state of matters how they stood at that tyme and in particuler what king Philip had promised to do and what he was bound to do and then what in deed he performed really whyle he was among vs which was more in deed then either he promised or had obligation to performe as hath byn shewed let vs heare now what Sir Francis sayth he would haue donne if he could or if his abode had byn longer in England The tale shall go in his owne wordes for better declaring his spirit Thus then he writeth This mariage was sought for and intended also in shew only to strengthen the hand of the Queen of England to bring in the Romish religion and gouernment into this land and to establish it with continuance with purpose and meaning to ad strength to all the corners of Christendome to continue Poperie where it was and to bring it in where it was not that so the Arche-prelate of Rome might hold the scepters and power of all princes and potentates of Christendome in his hand to dispose a◠his pleasure but the plottes and practises layd and pursued by the Spanish king had made a wofull proof to England of a further mark shot at which was discouered in a letter to some of our nobles from a true harted English-man in Spayne had not God almightie in his rich mercy preuented their purposes and defeated them in their determinations as it shall appeare hereafter c. This is the preface and entrance which Sir Francis maketh to the discouerie he promiseth of great hydden mysteries about plottes and practises not only layd but also pursued by king Philip whyle he was in England which neuer came to light vntill this day though at that tyme they were discouered as he sayth in a letter to some of our nobles from a true harted English-man in Spayne But for the credyt of so new and weightie and incredible a secret it had byn good he had named the parties and particularities therof as wel who wrote as also who receyued that letter For first the English-man in Spayne though he were true harted to the faction of S. Francis syde to wit to the Protestantes yet might he perhaps not be so true handed or true tongued at that tyme or so truly informed of thinges or of that authoritie that this his letter or report may beare credyt in so great a busines agaynst so great men it being taken vp perhaps at tauerns or porte townes and market places by some merchantes seruant or factor or other lyke wandring compaignon as well tipled with Spanish seck as with English heresie who might wryt these news from Spayne of K. Philip as Iohn Nicols the minister brought and printed from Rome and Italy in our dayes of the Pope and Cardinals And that this discouery if any such were and that the tale be not wholly forged by Sir Frācis himself could haue no better ground then that I haue sayd to wit the reporte of some vulgar people or the coniecture of some particuler discoursiue head as is euident in it self for that this being a most secret designement and drift of the king himself and of his priuie Councel who were all at that day remayning in England and had this proiect within their owne brestes only how could it be discouered by an English-man from Spaynerthink you Agayne the nobles in England to whome he sayth the letter was written might be such as probably it may be iudged to haue byn written of purpose to feed their humors or to comfort them in those dayes or that themselues did procure it to be written and sent for their credit or that themselues deuysed it in England to make therby the Spaniards more odious and their doinges more suspected and to draw by this meanes more English after themselues to impugne the present state and gouernment as when the lord Courtenay Earle of Deuonshyre for missing the mariage of Queen Marie beganne to practise and to think of leauing the land vpon discontentment and when the Carewes and other of that crew fled the realme for conspiracies to the same effect such a letter was much to their purpose But I shall not need to call in reasons and circumstances for shewing the vanitie of this letter for that the manifest and shameles falshoodes which it relateth will easely discouer the forgerie as also the forge it self from which it proceedeth I will follow then the continuation of Sir Francis narration in his own wordes Now to proceed sayth he to lay open the right mark that in deed this king shot at though when he made way to ioyne in mariage with Queen Marie he made semblance of great conscience to Catholique religion and great care to bring the whole land into the obedience therof and seemed to glorie much when it was brought to passe as his letter to his holy father at Rome written out of England doth make shew wherin he expresseth what a worthie woorke he had donne when he had drawen the nobles commons of the land to submit themselues to his holinesse as their cheef those are his wordes yet litle did the nobles and commons know what was intended towardes them by this catholique childe of Rome for vnder this colorable name of catholique religion was hidden the ambitious humor of a most proud vsurping tyrant whose resolution was vpon mature deliberation and consultation with his machiuilian counsellors to seek by al the possible kinde means he could to win the principal of our Nobles to affect him and in their affection to possesse him of the crown and so to establish him in an absolute power ouer poor England and to bring this to passe he decreed to spare neither cost nor kindenes c. Hetherto is the asseueration of Sir Francis concerning king Philips intention to gain our crowne but neuer a syllable more of proofe then you haue heard before to wit his owne woord and bare assertion which he taking to be sufficient passeth ouer presently to explicate exaggerate the dangerous effectes that would haue ensued vpon vs when the king should haue gotten his pretence But I must pul him by the sleeue request him to stay prooue a litle better that the king
decreed with himself that neither she nor any of that cursed nation so he termed it and yet the Popes holines had absolued it should gouern England any more But blessed be God who hath blessed vs with the lyfe and raigne of our blessed Queen who I trust shall liue to geue him such a deadly blow as neither his cursed self nor any of his cursed nation iustly so to be called because the Pope that cursed man of sinne hath blessed them shall euer see the day to rule in England And thus you see that vnder the colour of this mariage saluation of soules seemed to be sought for but in deed destruction both of our bodies and soules was pursued c. for without regard of sex age or degree all were destined to slauerie and bondage at the least howsoeuer they escaped with lyfe This is your sottish and impudent narration Sir Francis for what can be more sottish then to say that your wyse author before named discouereth vpon his owne knowledge and hearing that the kinges intention was to roote out the nobilitie to oppresse the commonaltie to slea or send to Barbarie for slaues all that were born within twentie yeares before If your author knew this of his owne knowledge how say you also by hearing and if he heard it of others how could he know it of his owne knowledge But whatsoeuer you say how could he in Spayne discouer so great a secret that lay in the kinges brest in England Besydes this how incredible are the thinges in themselues that he recounteth namely that dreame or old wyues tale of making all slaues within twenty yeares old of which number and within which age he had taken diuers already into his seâ—uice in England and vsed singular curtesie vnto them and one of his Grandes in Spayne to wit the Count after Duke of Feria had maried an English ladie that as I ghesse was within the compasse of that age or not much aâ—boue it at that day and should all these haue byn sent think you to Barbarie together Impudencie then it is in this fond knight to alleage such improbable and palpable lyes out of an author without name and much more lack of shame is it to auouch them himself for truthes and to adde other fables that are yet more monstrous as of the kinges destining to slauerie bondage not only those before mentioned that were borne within the space of twentie yeares but of all other English also as this man sayth without regard of sex age or degree and that he vsed to call our nation cursed euen then when the Popes holines had absolued it who will geue eare or credit to such absurd inuentions And further to fill vp sayth he the full measure of his impietie he had layd his plot to destroy and make away the lady Elizabeth now Queen wheras all the world notwithstanding knoweth the king to haue byn at that day her cheefest stay and defence as before I haue shewed at large in the third incounter as also that verie litle plotting of the kinges behalf would haue serued at that tyme to haue wrought his will if he had wished her destruction for the manifold reasons that there I haue alleaged he fynding her in disgrace and in prison at VVoodstock when he came into England and hardly pressed about wyats insurrection from the peril wherof and other lyke assaultes he espetially deluiered her and procured her return to the courte agayne and consequently I sayd there and heer I repeat it agayne that it is most barbarous ingratitude in this vnciuil knight to pay the carefull protection of her person which his Maiestie yealded to her grace in those dayes of her distresse with these intolerable slanders and outragious false criminations now and that no modest man can cease to wonder how so infamous a libel could be suffered by supreme authoritie to passe to the print espetially conteyning diuers other personal reprochefull contempteous and villanous calumniations agaynst so great and potent a prince as the king catholique of Spayne is And namely that where this good fellow hauing told a story how one Fabritius the Roman Captayne refusing the poysoning of his enemie Pirrhus that was offered to him for money by his physitian he sent the sayd physitian bound to Pirrhus himself and then he addeth this illation But the king of Spain delt not so with the Queen our mistris when her poysonable portugall phisitian Lopus would haue poysoned her for from such hopes he taketh hart c. By which wordes he would haue men to imagin that his catholique Maiestie had either hired Lopus to do that fact if any such matter was indeed intended or at least that he was priuie consenting to it for how otherwise could he haue warned the Q. of the danger intended and yet it is manifest that no such matter was euer or could probably be knoweÌ„ to the king of Spain Neither did euer Lopus giue any such signification or suspition at his death or before of the king of Spaines priuitie nor was he a man to haue correspondence in Spayn being knowen to be a Iew in religion fled from those parts and was enimy to the king in all respects as wel touching religion as the afaires of Portugal and onely England is the receptacle of such people at this day nor had his catholique Maiestie any Embassador or other agent or correspondence in England to plot such treaties nor euer was it heard that he would hearken to such base wayes of reuenge vpon his enimyes And therefore all this put together doth make it more then Turkish impietie to put in print such infamous stuffe agaynst the Maiestie of so high a prince by name without any proof at all as though there were no God no conscience no iudgement to make account vnto nor any respect in earth to be held to such as are in lawful authoritie which yet our dreaming knight himself alitle before will needes proue out of Sâ— Peeter and S. Paul to be due to such princes as he liketh to assigne it euen in spiritual and ecclesiastical matters belonging to the soule and consequently also to an other tribunal so vnconstant and mutable are these good fellowes not only in their sayinges and doctrines but also in their actions as led wholy by passion and interest and referring all to times persons and occasions seruing their turnes and commodities And thus much haue I thought conuenient to be answered to the malitious calumniations of this slaÌ„derous wach-word-giuer against the noble and renowned nation of Spanyardes and their most Catholique pious wise and potent king whose excellent vertues are greater then by my pen can be expressed and his loue and fauors to our nation such and so many especially in this extreme affliction and banishment of catholiques as no gratitude of ours can equal nor make due recompence in the state we stand in and therefore must leaue it
more honor or facilitie then at this present instant times and matters standing as they do and so fit a meanes and mediator as is the mightie king of France occurring for the purpose potent and grateful with all the extremes For with England and her Maiestie he cannot but be so in respect of matters and frendships past with Spain he is also to be presumed now by meanes and vertue of this new peace and great league concluded with his holinesse of Rome all christendome knoweth him to be as well in respect of his being a catholique as also for many particuler and extraordinary tokens of loue which his holinesse hath shewed towards his person The persons also and qualities of the parties with whome this atonement is or were to be treated are such as do greatly facilitate the enterprise and confirme the hope that all men haue of good successe For if for many ages God haue placed in the seat of Saynt Peeter a meek milde sweet and holy man this Pope Clement the eight is one knowen to be a man without gawle enmitie wrath or reuenge of singuler pietie zele in Gods cause and most tender harted towards them that are out of the way especially in heresy of whome he suffereth diuers with his owne particuler licence to come to Rome and to his owne presence and vseth them with all manner of curtesie and fatherly tendernes dismissing them again with much kindenes and diuers benefits as by experience we haue seene As for the king Catholique of Spain who knoweth him not to be Salomon pacificus that peaceable and wise Salomon of this our age who not only hath bin peaceable in himself during the time of his so long a gouernment offering molestation and warre to none except prouoked in his owne defence but also hath kept diuers other states round about him in peace likewise as by those of Italy hath bin manifestly seen vpon diuers occasions and as for his facility to make peace where any reasonable conditions are offered it hath bin sufficiently seen in this lastly made with France with restoring of so many important townes and states which he possessed of that crown and for his constancie in keeping peace once made all former times of his raigne haue giuen testimony and so will this I doubt not and the future time also in preseruing inuiolably this peace now knit vp with the king most christian and his alyes and dependants So as with neither of these princes is there any cause of dout either of great difficultie or of fraud or of breache if this treatie might be concluded and much lesse of the dutifull behaueour of English Catholiques both at home and abrode if it please her Maiestie and your Lordships to come to some moderation and peaceable manner of proceding with them In which poynt their first and highest desire should be that almightie God would inspire her Maiestie and your Lordships to think vpon the honorable godly and prudent course which the most Christian king of France hath taken of late to wit by reâ—â—iting himself and his kingdome agayne with the sea Apostolique of Rome mother of all true vnion among Christians for that by this act only all difficulties and ielousies both domestical and forrayn depending of religion were ended taken away But if for our sinnes this cannot be or not so soone as is desired then their humble petition will be that at least they may haue the same libertie and fauour in England for their consciences as Protestantes haue in France and in other states of the Empire at this day vnder catholique kinges and Emperours which petition seemeth so reasonable so easie and so profitable to the realme it self and so honorable to her Maiestie and to your Lordships who are desired to be mediators therin as they verely trust that by this good occasion you will not deny to lend them your helping hands for so publique and pretious a benefyte in all respectes And though I do not doubt but that diuers of S. Francis Hastings hote humor will step vp agaynst this proposition and cry rather fyre and sword and blood agaynst Catholiques then any toleration or relaxation yet other mennes hope is that your Lordships and others of the wiser and grauer sort of the realme will consider and suggest to her Maiestie what reason and humanitie requireth and not what the furious passion of those men demandeth who cease not to exclame with the mercilesse Iewes Crucifige Crucifige and further also would be content for satisfying their malice so they might obtayne lyke sentence of iniustice agaynst Catholiques as the Iewes did agaynst our Saueour espetially if they found a fit Pilate to grant it to cry with them Sanguis eorum super nos super Filios nostros let their blood fall vpon vs and our children and so it fell in most heauy measure vpon them and the lyke will do vpon these when tyme of payment commeth appoynted by almightie God if they change not their affection But your Lordships I presume be of a far different mynde and condition and that you will rather leaue peace loue and good will of all men to your children and posteritie then the inheritance of these enmities exasperations and deadly feudes for that blood enough and ouer much if Gods will were hath there byn spent already in our realme within these twenty yeares last past about this controuersie of religion and by this long experience your wisdomes haue seen what hath byn the euent and what is lyke to be if lyke proceeding be continued still Saynt Cyprians sentence hath byn manifestly verefied sanguis martyrum Ecclesiae semen by the blood of martirs the church increaseth Aboue a hundreth and thirtie English priestes of the only seminaries beyond the seas as most men accounte haue lost their lyues in this quarrel within the foresayd tyme all men of peace patient and humble learned vertuous and meeke yong in age for the most part but old in godlines in sapientia sanctorum in the wisdome of Sayntes for the lyf to come a great parte of them verie worshipfully borne and tenderly brought vp by their parentes and might haue liued many yeares in great delightes and pleasures of this world if the loue of eternitie had not made this vale of vanitie contemptible vnto them And albeit their death was reprehensible in the sight of some vulgar or passionate people that consider nothing but the present spectacle and popular voyce that they died for treasons yet to themselues who remembred the false accusations made agaynst their mayster for troobling the people and for dehorting the payment of tribute vnto Caesar and other such calumniations and that his innocency could not deliuer him but that at last he was preferred to dy in the midle of two theeues vpon a crosse to them I say that remembred and did meditate these thinges to them this circumstance of treason in